December 8

How Divorce Affects People

In the first six months of 1976, 987,000 couples were married and 538,000 divorced in the United States.​—The 1977 “World Almanac & Book of Facts.”

IN THE time it takes to read this page, four marriages will end in divorce​—in just the United States. Every minute, on the average, more than two marriages are official dissolved.

In some places divorces are approaching, if not exceeding, the number of marriages. In Los Angeles County alone, nearly 50,000 divorces are filed a year. DallaSite, a Texas newspaper, reports: “During the first half of 1975, Dallas County records show that there were more divorces filed than marriage licenses issued.” In all, 8,275 divorces were filed and 6,801 marriage licenses issued.

The speed at which people are shedding their mates is staggering and is still gathering momentum. Divorces more than doubled in the U.S. in ten years; from 1965 to 1975 they leaped from 479,000 to 1,026,000. In other countries, the rate of increase is much greater.

In 1960, Canada had only 6,980 divorces. By 1973 the number had leaped to over five times that, to 36,704. And then in 1974 there were 45,019 divorces, resulting in an increase of more than 20 percent. “Divorce is so widespread,” reports the Toronto Star, it’s the happily married couple of 15 years or more who sometimes feel[s] like a minority.”

In the Soviet Union, too, the increase in marriage breakdowns is staggering. The Soviet digest Sputnik says: “About 2.5 million marriages are registered in the USSR annually . . . At the same time, the average number of divorces registered daily reaches 2,000, that is, one divorce for every three marriages.”

The situation is similar in Great Britain. Divorces there tripled in ten years. Sweden reportedly has three divorces for every five marriages, a higher ratio even than the United States. Divorces are increasing at a dizzying rate in other European countries, including Denmark and Germany.

Certain African nations also have high divorce rates. Zambia, a country of only a little over five million people, is very concerned about its 19,000 divorces a year, not far behind the divorce rate in the U.S.

Atlas World Press Review, August 1977, notes: “Divorces have become fashionable among young Japanese wives. . . . Now when they hear that there is one divorce every four minutes and 14 seconds, they want to join the race lest they be left behind.” And over in Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post complains of a “fast rising divorce rate during the past few years.”

So divorce is booming practically everywhere. With what effect?

A Changed Society

First of all, tens of millions of lives have been disrupted, often tragically. MD magazine of March 1977 notes: “Counting spouses and children under 18, more than 4 million Americans annually ‘have their lives dramatically changed by divorce, and an equal number are estimated to experience desertion, the ‘poor man’s divorce.’”

The skyrocketing divorce rates are only one evidence of dissatisfaction with marriage. Many couples are experimenting with new life-styles, mutually agreeing to sexual acts with persons not their husbands and wives; still others simply ‘live together,’ setting up housekeeping with someone of the opposite sex without getting married.

The Way to Happiness?

But rather than creating a climate of peace and happiness, the divorce epidemic and the new life-styles are resulting in widespread suspicion and anxiety in families. “Some couples are so frightened by the number of divorces in their neighborhoods,” notes a director of a New York Center for Family Learning, that “they come to us just to talk about what they can do to prevent divorce.”

No longer can women, as a rule, count on their husbands for a lifetime of support, and therefore many worry about having to cope when their husbands depart. But, in other instances, it is the wives who leave their husbands. Some even leave behind small children.

After divorce, when they are free ‘to do their own thing,’ what happens? Are the divorced really happy? Three U.S. professors, who made a study of such persons, report in Psychology Today of April 1977: “We didn’t find a single victimless divorce among the families we studied. At least one member of each family reported distress or showed a negative change in behavior.”

The article noted that free-living divorced men did not realize lasting satisfaction, and added: “The stereotyped image of the carefree, swinging single life did not hold up for the women, either. For them, casual sex brought on feelings of desperation, depression, and low self-esteem.” No wonder that suicide is at least three times as frequent among the divorced as among the married, and that alcoholism shows similar patterns.

The children, however, often are the principal sufferers. In the U.S. alone, some 11 million children live in single-parent homes. Many are at the center of custody battles, and commonly they are snatched from one parent by another. Meyer Elkin, an expert on family problems, laments: “We are now raising a generation of children from broken homes​—and creating a social time bomb.”

Divorce also hurts the pocketbook. “Inflation has sent the cost of a divorce sky high,” reports Business Week, “a minimum of $1,500 per partner in legal fees alone, and more if the action is contested or if there is a custody fight.” But even worse are the sparks of bitterness that are often fanned into consuming flames. As one Chicago divorce attorney said: “I feel that divorce law is usually more like war than war is.”

A woman who went through a divorce in 1974 writes: “My first rude awakening came when I went to a lawyer. He needed a $400 retainer before he could draw up any papers. A lawyer helps you develop a certain hardness, which contributes to an already growing bitterness.

“I should know, because I elected to follow my lawyer’s advice and ended up before a referee in Domestic Relations Court six different times just to discuss temporary child support and property divisions. Every time I went down to court, it required additional papers to be drawn up, and, of course, additional lawyer’s fees.”

Since divorce often results in bitterness and unhappiness, why do people divorce? Why is there such an epidemic of divorces today? These are questions that we will next consider.

Why They Split Up

AFTER reading about skyrocketing divorce rates, a person may understandably ask: Why do so many more marriages break up today?

One reason is that new laws make divorce easier. “No fault” divorce was introduced in California in 1970, so marriages can be dissolved without attaching blame to either party. Already 50 states and territories of the United States have no-fault divorce laws.

Since December 1973 couples in England, who have no children involved, can get a divorce by merely filling out a form accompanied by a notarized statement that the marriage has broken down, and then mailing them to the authorities. Other countries, too, have been liberalizing their divorce laws.

But there is a more fundamental reason why divorce rates are skyrocketing.

It has to do with the very thinking of people​—their values, how they look at marriage and what they expect out of life. In this there has been a sudden, dramatic change.

People have learned to expect and want more. Many agree with a U.S. beer commercial that says: ‘You only go around once in life, so grab for all the gusto you can.’ So, when marriage is not as exciting as they are led to expect, many look for a way out. They get a divorce. There is now even widespread experimentation with different kinds of relationships, even calling them “marriage,” as the Seattle Post-Intelligencer notes:

“In the Seattle area bankers and engineers are trying group marriage. Open marriage is a subject of Sunday morning sermons . . . No-contract marriages are competing with licensed unions. The elderly are quietly flouting convention and children of the revolution are growing up under a new sex ethic.”

To illustrate the suddenness of the change: In the spring of 1968, only nine years ago, there was a scandal when an unmarried New York city college sophomore admitted that she had been living off-campus with a man. The story hit the front page of the New York Times, and the girl was nearly expelled from school. Today many major colleges have coed dormitories, and living together is so common that it hardly draws a comment.

Despite the radical change in attitudes, a legal-contract marriage of one man and one woman is still popular. But instead of considering marriage a lifetime commitment, divorce is now viewed as a logical alternative, ‘if it doesn’t work out.’ A recent survey in West Germany revealed that 26 percent of German brides have divorce in mind even before they marry. Obviously this type of thinking contributes to divorce.

The modern “liberation” movements have encouraged the pursuit of careers outside the home, or whatever other course in life will bring one “self-fulfillment.” As a result, there is less emphasis today on commitment, and more on individual gratification. People are inclined to think first of their own satisfaction and pleasure, of getting everything they can out of life NOW. This attitude seems to be at the root of why there are so many divorces today.

The example set by world leaders has not helped, as Good Housekeeping of June 1977 notes:

“As the nation’s divorce rate headed upward, political figures seemed to lead the rush to the divorce courts. Cabinet members, Congressmen, ambassadors, high-level White House staffers untied their marriages as freely as the rest of the population, or even more so, with no apparent detriment to their careers or their public image.”

Such examples have contributed to the avalanche of divorces; and the very fabric of the family, as well as society as a whole, has been affected. Is there an answer? Can people find genuine happiness for themselves and their families?

What Is the Answer?

MILLIONS of people get married every year because they believe that marriage will bring them the happiness that they seek. Yet their expectations often meet up with disappointment. So they get divorced, hoping this will answer their problems and open a door to happiness.

But is divorce the answer? What about some alternative arrangement to traditional marriage?

The Origin of Marriage

With human inventions, sufficient thought and experimentation almost always lead to improvement. So if marriage is of human origin, then the answer is, “Yes, it would be appropriate to experiment and make alterations so as perhaps to come up with a better arrangement.”

Well, then, what about the origin of marriage?

The 1977 Encyclopedia Americana, under “Marriage, History of,” notes: “Some scholars are inclined to trace the origin of marriage to pairing arrangements of animals below man. Studies reveal that a more or less permanent association . . . characterizes the anthropoid apes, with the association of the chimpanzee being monogamous and durable.”

Thus, marriage is commonly believed to have originated among subhuman creatures. However, there is no real evidence to support this view. The Encyclopedia Americana even acknowledges that “these more or less permanent associations between other than human animals are not marriages, for animals have no society to sanction them.”

This source goes on to claim: “While the original form of marriage is lost in the oblivion of the prehistorical period, it is safe to say that during historical times some form of marriage has been present in all societies. . . . the main forms of marriage are polygymy [a man having more than one wife], polyandry [a woman having more than one husband] and monogamy [men and women having only one mate].”

So the fact is that various forms of marriage already have been tried, in the past as well as the present. Yet, as The Encyclopedia Americana observes: “The prevalent form of marriage among all people today, and probably among people in all times, has been some form of monogamy, or the union of one man and one woman. . . it appears to be more favorable to the care and upbringing of children.”

Why has a union of one man and one woman always been the generally accepted form of marriage? Could it be because such marriage is of Divine, rather than of human, origin? When Jesus Christ was once asked about grounds for divorce, note what he said concerning the origin of marriage:

“Did you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh’? So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked together let no man put apart.” (Matt. 19:3-6; Gen. 2:21-24) No, “the original form of marriage” was not lost in the so-called “oblivion of the prehistorical period.”

But you may ask, If marriage really is of Divine origin, why is there so much unhappiness associated with it? Could we not expect better results from something God created?

The Basic Problem

There is a basic reason why so many marriages are unhappy or end up in failure. To illustrate: When a manufacturer produces a product, he usually supplies instructions for its use, does he not? But what happens if the instructions are ignored? The product, even though of perfect quality, may break down and fail because of misuse.

So it is with marriage. Almighty God originated marriage, providing for couples to be joined in wedlock and to bring forth children in a family arrangement. God also provided instructions for family living. But when these instructions are ignored, despite the perfection of the arrangement, marriage can, and, as experience has shown, often does, bring unhappiness to all concerned.

Yet the arrangement itself is good, with real potential for bringing happiness, as even persons whose marriages have failed may acknowledge. Thus a 47-year-old New Jersey businessman, after a two-year legal separation, began courting his wife again, explaining: “What I missed was something that had taken a lifetime to build. I knew by a look, by a half sentence exactly what my wife was thinking. And, she is the only one who really understands me . . .

“I missed driving my kids to school every morning. I would take them out to dinner several times a week, but it wasn’t the same. The spontaneity and easiness of our relationship was gone. People need structure. They are taught for many years to value a home and a family and suddenly they think they can throw it all away​—well, they can’t. I couldn’t.”

The Only Sure Answer

So the key to a successful marriage is following the guidelines of the Creator of marriage, Jehovah God. Yet this may be doubted. Nevertheless, the fact remains, the Bible’s guidance has helped many couples to enjoy a happy life together. Unfortunately, few persons know about the fine instruction that the Bible provides for husbands and wives, and fewer still follow that instruction.

For a moment, then, consider just a portion of the advice that the Bible gives couples: “Husbands must always treat their wives with consideration in their life together, respecting a woman as one who, though she may be the weaker partner, is equally an heir to the life of grace.” “You too, each one of you, must love his wife as he loves himself.”​—1 Pet. 3:7; Eph. 5:33, The Jerusalem Bible.

Yes, husbands are to take the initiative in showing consideration to their wives. They have the greater responsibility for conditions in the family. The Bible shows why when it says: “A husband is head of his wife.” (Eph. 5:23) To many women in this world of women’s liberation, this may sound distasteful. But need it be? Not when the headship is exercised properly, in a loving way, with the husband considering the opinions, likes and dislikes of his wife, and even giving her preference when there is no issue at stake. In this way he follows the Bible counsel to show his wife consideration.

The Bible also urges: “Let wives be in subjection to their husbands,” and, “The wife should have deep respect for her husband.” (Eph. 5:22, 33) God purposed that a wife work along with her husband, serving as a helper, a complement to him. (Gen. 2:18, 24) What a fine arrangement this can be, especially when each partner follows this further Bible counsel: “Clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind, mildness, and long-suffering. Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely”!​—Col. 3:12, 13.

When couples truly recognize that marriage is a Divine arrangement and when God’s guidance is sought and followed, then marriage can bring husbands and wives a lifetime of genuine happiness. Does this mean, however, that divorce is never the answer to marriage problems?

Ideally, it shouldn’t be. Yet the situation may arise where a husband or a wife flouts the sacredness of the marital arrangement and engages in sex relations with a person other than his or her marriage mate, or even with an animal. Such conduct is what the Greeks called porneia, or sexual immorality. And the Greek text at Matthew 19:9 states that porneia is the only basis on which Christians can properly get a divorce and remarry.

Unfortunately, God’s counsel is often not applied today, many times because people do not know about it. Then troubles usually result. We can learn from the experiences of others. So we invite you to read the following story of a young woman and her divorce.

My Divorce​—A Second Chance at Life?

AS I sat next to my attorney in the judge’s chambers, thoughts of my impending freedom raced through my mind. Within the next few hours, I would be free to date, to go where I wanted to go, to make my own decisions​—free to do what I wanted to do!

At that point, in December 1974, there wasn’t much more besides my freedom that I really wanted out of life. I was 29 years old, and a mother of two sons. I had a nice home in a quiet suburb in northern Ohio, and a secure job with an insurance agency where I had worked since graduating from high school. I figured that I had most of the things that every woman wants​—children, a home and a good job. The major mistake that I made in life, my marriage, was about to be erased with the stroke of the judge’s pen.

The intrigue of our promiscuous society increased my desire for freedom. Moral standards had changed radically since I married back in 1966. Now I could try out all the things that the young girls were talking about in the office​—do my own thing, and not be accountable to anyone. I was really going to make something out of this second opportunity. There were so many places that I wanted to go and things that I wanted to do.

I felt sure that I could handle whatever came up. I had read many books regarding divorce. And with the information that I had gathered from the books, coupled with vast “knowledge” obtained from TV dramas and office gossip, I was all set to go out and really enjoy life.

Why the Decision

My eight years of marriage had left me with nothing but unhappy memories. Our house had become like a motel, just a place in which to eat and sleep. My husband and I both worked, supposedly to make a good life for our sons. When we weren’t working, we’d spend our time together arguing. We very seldom spent time with the boys because we were so busy​—my husband was trying to make the ‘big money.’

Still, the decision to get a divorce was not an easy one. There had never been a divorce in our family in over five generations. But after another one of our violent arguments, I finally decided I couldn’t go on living under those conditions.

When I initially decided to get a divorce, I told no one but a close friend and my parents. I figured that I had gotten into this mess by myself, and I’d get out the same way. Well, it didn’t take long for the news to get around. Many of our close friends gave me moral support. And free advice? Well, there was certainly plenty of that. However, I later learned that most of it was incorrect. But their intentions appeared genuine, and I needed someone to talk with when I fell into periods of depression.

My parents took the news of my divorce much better than I had anticipated. I had always been rather close to them, but not to the point of having confidential conversations regarding my married life. They never interfered, although there were many times when they were aware of the beatings and abusive treatment that I had received.

I wasn’t married until I was 21 years old, and most of my childhood was spent on a farm in Ohio. Although my parents never came out and told my younger brother and me how much they loved us, they demonstrated their love by their actions; we didn’t feel that the words were necessary. After I had filed for divorce, I learned that my parents had been aware of my husband’s infidelity, but they had never told me. They didn’t want to see me hurt.

Adjustments Made

Since it took almost a year for the divorce to go through, I was able to make many adjustments gradually. One of them was in connection with my job. Because of the change in marital status, it was necessary to bring home a higher salary. I discussed this with my bosses, after some prodding from friends involved with the women’s liberation movement.

I told my bosses that I felt that I was able to do a man’s job; hence, I was entitled to higher pay. They decided to give me a chance to prove it. They made me supervisor over three girls whom I had previously worked alongside.

But with a bigger paycheck came greater responsibility, and with it changes that were not always pleasant. I could no longer sit in with the girls and have long conversations regarding their exciting night lives. Now my job was to make sure that they got their work done. The close relationship that we had once seemed to share disappeared. They no longer considered me their confidant.

Things at home didn’t change that much. I continued to follow the same routine of going to work each day, taking the children to the baby-sitter and handling the household finances. The only major change was going out evenings to pursue some of my own interests. On occasion I would take the children with me, especially if I were playing tennis, or attending a new craft class. Something was planned for almost every night of the week.

My friends helped to plan my weekends. They arranged dates, introducing me to other divorced friends. I soon learned a very important fact​—I was no different from most other divorcées. One night at a disco spot, I sat at a table with sixteen divorced people. For five hours I listened to them tell how rotten their ex-mates had been, and how they had been taken for everything. You would have thought someone was playing a tape recorder, only changing the names. They were so filled with self-pity, and/​or liquor, they couldn’t have cared less where they were going in life.

One thing that all divorcées seem to share in common is loneliness. But was sitting in a bar drinking and crying in one’s beer the answer? Many would end up going home with a partner to spend a “meaningful” evening . . . in bed. After continuing this pace for about six months, my mother very nicely reminded me that the life I was leading was no different from that of my ex-husband.

I finally realized that there was more to life than what I was doing. Looking at my sons, I asked myself: “If I were in their place, would I be proud of my mother? Is this the life that I want for them?” If they weren’t staying with a baby-sitter, they were over at a friend’s house while I went out.

Interest in Sons’ Welfare

I decided to take a more active interest in my sons. Although they were only ages seven and five, they had a much greater insight than I had given them credit for. One Sunday, I told the boys that I would take them to church; neither one had been there before. Since my husband and I had been of two different religions, we could never decide which church to attend. So we just didn’t go at all.

A big jolt came one day when my younger son asked me, ‘Does God have a son?’ I was appalled to think that my sons had no knowledge of God, and yet, as I looked back over my eight years of marriage, I could see why. My husband and I were so busy working to make a ‘good life’ for them, we never thought about religion. The only time that they heard about God or Christ was when my husband and I were arguing, and then the names were used profanely.

One evening, while I was attending an open house at school, I met a neighbor that I hadn’t seen for some time. About five years before, we both had studied the Bible with one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but I had stopped after only two studies because my husband threatened violent action if I continued. I asked her how the Witness was doing, explaining that I was concerned because I had two sons to raise who had no knowledge of God or of the Bible. She immediately made arrangements for the Witness to call. Two days later she came.

The Help Received

For an hour a week, we’d sit and discuss my problems. The Witness would show me how to apply the Bible’s fine principles. For instance, I was somewhat lax in disciplining the boys. After all, I had deprived them of a father, and being the only parent, I didn’t want to spend all my time yelling at them. And wasn’t I showing them love by holding back discipline?

Not according to the Bible, I learned. I was shown the scripture at Proverbs 13:24, which says: “The one holding back his rod is hating his son, but the one loving him is he that does look for him with discipline.”

I thoroughly enjoyed the knowledge that I was gaining. I never realized before that the Bible has a main theme​—God’s kingdom—​the Kingdom that we pray for every time we say the Lord’s Prayer. (Matt. 6:9, 10; Luke 4:43) This kingdom will rule the whole earth, and its subjects won’t have to die and leave loved ones behind. Learning such things began to bring me the happiness for which I was looking, a happiness that I could share with my sons.

Soon I started attending meetings at the local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and found this a truly heartwarming experience. There I noted no children running around, no pushing or shoving, no foul language, no groups of women gossiping about others. I’d never received such a warm and loving reception. Here were people that I had never met before showing a genuine concern for both my sons and me. Six months later I was baptized in symbol of my dedication to serve the true God, Jehovah.

“If I Had Only Known Then”

Don’t think I haven’t wondered whether I might have been able to save my marriage if I had only known then what I do now. I’ve learned that it takes three “C’s” to make a good marriage​—consideration, cooperation and communication.

My husband and I failed to cultivate them. We became so wrapped up in our own personal lives, we didn’t really consider one another as we should have. Oh, we were busy, so we thought, making a ‘good life’ for our family, but we weren’t alert to the feelings or real needs of the family. We began pulling apart, rather than cooperating together. And this affected communication.

Despite what some people say, couples can’t solve all their problems in the bedroom. They may have a wonderful sexual relationship, but what lasting good is it if they can’t sit down and discuss their problems? Many people think that because they’ve been married for a period of time they know exactly what the other person is thinking. This is not always so, as I learned the hard way. You can’t help someone if you don’t know what the problem is, and second-guessing doesn’t provide the answer, nor generally does divorce.

Yet millions of persons today are looking to divorce as the answer. They are inclined to treat their marriage much like a material possession​—if the quality doesn’t meet their expectations, they discard it and seek something better. Attention is only directed inward​—on what pleases and satisfies oneself. Personal fulfillment is emphasized as all-important. ‘You have a right to happiness,’ the propaganda says. ‘You only live once, and you deserve the best.’

This selfish spirit had influenced me. My principal concern had become my own happiness​—freedom to do what I wanted. Many times I have looked back and wondered, ‘What was it that I was really looking for?’ Was it just a good time? But I soon realized that there’s more to life than dancing and ‘having fun’ at all-night discos. Was I hoping to meet someone with whom to share my life? If so, did I really hope to find him in a bar?

Then there was the hard question: Was I just looking for love with no commitment? But let’s face it, that’s not real love; it’s just gratification. It doesn’t bring genuine happiness. I am so glad that I woke up and started thinking of ones other than myself​—the children. And how thankful I am that I was directed to where I could get the right kind of help.

A Life with Meaning

I began to appreciate what real love is. The Bible, at 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5, describes how it is manifest: “Love is long-suffering and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury.”

Yes, love is genuine concern for the interests of others! It is active; it does things. And I have found that exercising such love is the key to real happiness, even as Jesus Christ said: “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.”​—Acts 20:35.

Daily I see such Christlike love practiced among the Christian people with whom I now regularly associate. Among them there’s no foul language, drunkenness, belittling others or the telling of dirty jokes so as to be the life of the party. Rather, there exists a warm and loving atmosphere centered around the family.

It’s no easy task raising two sons alone, but with the fine example and help of Christian associates and the inspired guidance provided in God’s Word, the results are heartwarming. The boys are developing a good conscience toward God, and are beginning to think of others before themselves. Even though they are without their father, they have come to know that there is a God who cares​—Jehovah. My greatest joy is watching them grow in knowledge and appreciation of this One who will never forsake his servants, but will bless them with everlasting life. (Ps. 133:3)​—Contributed.

[Blurb on page 10]

“For five hours I listened to them tell how rotten their ex-mates had been.”

[Blurb on page 11]

“‘The only time that they heard about God or Christ was when my husband and I were arguing, and then the names were used profanely.”

[Blurb on page 12]

“I soon realized that there’s more to life than dancing and ‘having fun’ at all-night discos.”

New Light on Leprosy

By “Awake!” correspondent in Trinidad

“UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!” Down through the millenniums of time this distressing cry has echoed from many throats and in many lands. It has been the cry of the hopeless ones, the afflicted ones, the outcasts from society. It has been the heraldic cry of the leper. This chilling warning has usually produced an immediate response, not one of pity or compassion but, in the majority of instances, one of revulsion and a desire immediately to move away from the afflicted one.

At one time in England a leper was declared officially dead, and all his belongings were seized. In other lands, a leper’s home might be burned, while he was forced to get out of the community. Even today the general attitude toward leprosy is one of fear, mystery and ignorance. In one Far Eastern country, doctors observe that some 90 percent of those who are successfully treated still choose to stay in the settlement because of public ostracism. The expression “leprosy”’ causes such an odium in the minds of the public in general that the disease is now known by a more acceptable name, Hansen’s disease.

However, there is an ever-widening circle of informed persons, principally medical and professional social workers, as well as patients, who now look upon the affliction as being no more odious than any other disease and one that need not prevent a victim from leading a useful and satisfying life. Those who use the Bible as their authority and guide in life feel true sympathy for sufferers of this disease. They know that it is no direct curse from God but is one of many manifestations of human imperfection resulting from the disobedience of the first man, Adam.​—John 9:1-3; Rom. 5:12.

Effects and Extent of the Disease

Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is widespread throughout the earth. It is found in all the countries of North and South America except Chile. There are a total of some 400,000 cases in the Americas, with about 13,000,000 cases throughout the earth. Many more doctors and facilities than now exist are needed to bring the disease under control, although drugs and treatment are now available that could effect a much greater control.

Do you ever wonder if you might have the disease? Do you know of someone who has symptoms that might suggest having contracted it? Then, by all means, arrangements for an accurate diagnosis should be made as soon as possible.

What are the early clinical features of Hansen’s disease? There might be flat discolorations or pale patches in the skin. While leprosy may not be the reason for such patches, the layman should let his medical adviser examine them. Areas on the skin insensitive to touch or pain should also be investigated. Areas devoid of hair should be regarded with suspicion. Nodules under the skin are often early evidences of leprosy and merit further investigation. If examination shows that one does not have the disease, this will provide welcome relief from mental anxiety and stress. If there is evidence of the disease, early treatment holds a better possibility of a cure, with little or no disfigurement.

Progress in Knowledge and Treatment

Much has been found out about Hansen’s disease. One of the outstanding discoveries is that the affliction is communicable only to a minor degree. Efforts to infect volunteers have repeatedly failed, and very rarely do workers handling leprosy cases contract the disease. Out of 100 persons who had close contact with an open case of leprosy over a five-year period, only about three became infected. Also, the healthy marriage partner hardly ever gets it from the afflicted spouse. Leprologists point out that susceptibility to Hansen’s disease is much greater in infants and young children than in adults. For this reason newborn babes are taken from parents who are afflicted and given to relatives to rear or are brought up in institutions.

For many decades the principal treatment for the disease consisted of the use of chaulmoogra oil, which was applied to the afflicted parts or taken orally. But this was not very successful in arresting the condition. The patient was taken to an isolated settlement or a hospital and forced to remain there until such time as the disease became static or death ensued. This could mean remaining there for many years. In Trinidad, the government set up a hospital on a separate island, where all known cases were taken and kept in wards or chalets. To visit the place was most depressing. Fear of being sent there kept many from seeking medical aid.

Then, in 1941, the sulfone drugs were introduced, and with them came a new outlook on life for sufferers and much brighter prospects of arresting the disease or even curing it, Provided that treatment is carried out early enough and persistently for a period of three to ten years or longer, the chances of arrest and cure are good. Additionally, a person being treated loses his mild infectivity gradually.

Other drugs are also being used. Thalidomide, once used as a tranquilizer and that caused deformities in babies whose mothers had taken it during pregnancy, is now employed to control acute reactions in male lepers under intensive treatment. Rifampicin, an antibiotic active against tuberculosis, has also been employed in the treatment of leprosy. This drug acts more quickly than the sulfone drugs and has been used in Malaysia for the treatment of persons resistant to the sulfones.

Present Attitudes and Services

Due to the successes experienced with various drugs and a better understanding of the disease itself, it is no longer compulsory to remain isolated in an institution. In Trinidad, the policy of compulsory confinement was reversed some years ago. Patients could come and go as they wished, mingling with the public. There was some objection to this at first, but, since no epidemic of Hansen’s disease broke out, objections have been silenced. Persons who remain in the institution usually are suffering from advanced stages of the disease that was contracted before the introduction of the new drugs for treating the affliction. The changed attitude toward the disease has made life much happier for those who have it. As a result, people have been more ready to get their case diagnosed.

There are auxiliary services associated with the treatment of the disease. Special shoemakers are employed to fit footwear. It is important that shoes be comfortable and inflict the minimum of damage to feet, often ulcerated and insensitive to pain. Physiotherapists are employed to exercise affected fingers, toes and limbs. This serves to arrest deformity and to rehabilitate afflicted joints. Special orthopedic surgeons are called in to attend to the complicated deformities of limbs. Eye surgeons are engaged to correct eyelids and eye muscles that have become defective. Plastic surgeons can do much toward overcoming facial deformities. Contact tracers (social workers) are employed to look for new cases and to bring in for treatment persons who have neglected their needs. The Trinidad and Tobago Leprosy Relief Association caters to the social needs of the patients. It attends to their housing, procures jobs for them and otherwise helps them with multitudinous problems, for example, caring for the education of their children.

Experience of Patients

New light on leprosy certainly has made the prospects and the lot of one contracting Hansen’s disease better and happier. No longer do informed persons move away from his presence as from one having a plague. Moreover, his future is judged not hopeless and he is not relegated to the fringes of society. He, too, can receive beneficial medical treatment and assistance comparable to that available to persons suffering from other maladies. Along with other humans, he can live a normal, integrated life. If he chooses to do so, he can take in knowledge of the Great Physician, Jehovah God, who will permanently heal all our diseases, doing so by means of his Kingdom in the hands of his Son Jesus Christ.​—Rev. 21:4, 5.

The Most Important ‘Emotional Period’

WHEN is the most important period of an infant’s emotional life? “The first few hours of life itself” answers one doctor referring to immediately after birth. Discussing the trend in some hospitals of whisking the baby away from the mother at birth, he adds: “The emotional effects of such separation on both mother and infant may be greater than the risks of harm in a hospital bed [from unwanted germs].” His observation is backed by many research studies of humans and animals that strongly suggest close physical contact is needed by mother and child immediately after birth.

Supertankers​—Are These ‘Sea Monsters’ Facing Extinction?

By “Awake!” correspondent in Ireland

THE maiden voyage of the Olympic Bravery did not last long​—just a few hours. This V. L. C. C. (Very Large Crude Carrier) ran aground on rocks off the coast of Brittany, France. The vessel had been a double problem for her owners. Not only did this ‘monster of the seas’ become a wreck before earning any money, but she also became obsolete before ever doing a day’s work. On this disastrous voyage, the Olympic Bravery was destined to be ‘laid up,’ joining many other vessels in premature redundancy.

The plight of the Olympic Bravery well symbolizes the problems surrounding a modern breed of ships, dubbed “supertankers” due to their tremendous size. When first built, supertankers were viewed by many as an ideal way of transporting the huge amounts of crude oil required by modern industrial societies. Initially, prodigious sums of money were invested in their development. But of late, the shipyards that remodeled their facilities to build these ships find their order books empty.

Close-up View of a Supertanker

We invite you to join us at the shipyard in Belfast to view a new supertanker, the Lima, while she is in the final stages of construction. Vessels like the Lima are not built in the tradition of graceful ships. They appear brutally functional. The Lima’s sides are starkly perpendicular, the bows rounded in a sweeping semicircle, not elegantly tapered. She is finished with a bulbous stub “nose,” normally hidden below the water. This feature facilitates passage through the seas. Supertankers do not cut their way through the water but batter their passage.

As we stand alongside this vessel, her starboard (right) side towers above us like a steel cliff, 80 feet (24 meters) high. The actual height, from deck level to keel, is 94 feet (29 meters), and the length is 1,154 feet (352 meters)​—not far short of one quarter of a mile! Here at the stern we can see that even the propeller is of supersize. It is over 30 feet (9 meters) in diameter and weighs 60 tons.

Climbing to deck level, we are confronted by a bewildering tangle of pipes, valves and hydrants. These are used to load and unload oil, and for service and safety purposes. The deck slopes gently from the center, having a width of 182 feet (55 meters). Overall it is large enough to contain 60 tennis courts. Actually, the deck is made up of the ceilings for each of the vessel’s storage tanks. Each tank has an inspection hatch. As we peer into one of the tanks, the bottom of the ship is so far below us that it is hidden from our view in murky shadows.

To the rear of the tanker, rising six stories above the deck, is a structure housing control rooms, accommodations, a swimming pool and other amenities. The navigating bridge on the top story runs the complete width of the ship.

The Lima is described as a vessel of 330,000 “deadweight tons” (d.w.t.). This means that her carrying capacity is 330,000 tons. (When the Lima goes into service, nearly all this space will be filled with crude oil.) That much crude oil is roughly equal to 84 million (imperial) gallons (382 million liters).

As we view the Lima, our minds turn to the uncertain future of supertankers, the largest moving objects man has ever made. Why have the technological “miracles” of the 1960’s become the shipping “dinosaurs” of the 1970’s? To answer this question, we might examine how and why these supertankers developed.

Development of the Supertankers

Supertankers like the Lima are a very new concept in shipping. The whole idea of transporting oil is not that ancient, for oil only started to emerge as an important fuel in the past hundred years, since the invention of the internal combustion engine. Initially, oil was shipped in wooden barrels on ordinary vessels as part of “general cargo.” Then, in 1886, the first specially built “tanker” was launched, the Glückauf, of 2,300 d.w.t.. Growth in tonnage sizes came very slowly. By World War I tankers had reached 8,000-ton capacity; by World War II 16,000-tonners had been built. During the next ten years tankers grew to 30,000 d.w.t.. The scene was now set for the dramatic leap forward into the supertanker era, led originally by Japanese shipbuilders.

In the early 1960’s, the first 100,000-tonner was built. From that time on, sizes increased so fast that any new records were broken as soon as they were set. To date, the largest supertankers are approximately 500,000 d.w.t.

Designers have plans for even larger vessels. The building dock at the Belfast shipyard could handle a 1,000,000-tonner. The only restraints to size increases seem to be the strength of available building materials, and the shortage of harbors deep enough to handle such huge ships.

Just why have supertankers been developed? Why the relentless drive for ever larger ships?

Reasons for Development

The basic motive is MONEY. Many of the world’s multimillionaires have amassed much of their fortunes from speculation with supertankers. Oil companies claim that the cost of many oil products has been kept down by the introduction of these colossal vessels. Why is this the case? The Encyclopædia Britannica notes that the “cost of transportation decreases as ship size increases. The unit cost of carrying oil in a 200,000-ton tanker is 25 percent lower than in a 16,000-ton vessel.” (1976 edition, Macropædia, Vol. 16, p. 689) Several factors are responsible for this. Regardless of the size of the tanker, the size of the crew varies little, and, hence, wages paid are about the same. Also, at a given speed, a long ship moves through the water more easily than a short one. So, the very size of supertankers aids them to reduce their power requirements and, consequently, the amount of fuel used.

Growth in demand for oil products also gave impetus to the supertanker boom. In the 1930’s, approximately 75 percent of the world energy needs were met by coal. By the 1950’s, the pendulum was swinging in favor of oil. Russia and her allies have been able to meet their needs from home deposits, but western Europe and Japan were almost entirely dependent on imported oil, mainly from Arab states. By the 1970’s, even North America found it necessary to import oil, formerly having been self-sufficient.

This ever-growing demand required a fleet of tankers to transport oil from where it exists in abundance, especially around the Persian Gulf, over thousands of miles of ocean to the oil-consuming countries. In the early 1970’s, world demand for oil was growing at an annual rate of between 7 and 9 percent. Consequently, there was a parallel need for growth in tanker tonnage. Supertankers filled that need.

The Boom Becomes a Slump

Then, at the end of 1973, the Arab states introduced the oil-exporting embargo. Within weeks the price of Middle-Eastern oil quadrupled, increasing revenue for the producers but also reversing the previous rapid growth in demand. In some areas this growth had been as much as 10 percent annually.

Until this stunning reversal, it had been assumed that there would be a steady growth in demand for oil. On this basis, many supertankers were on order and were being built to cope with the anticipated growth. Suddenly, the world’s tanker fleet was far too big for the diminishing demand for oil. Ships yet to be completed just added to the surplus, worsening the situation even further. All around the globe, supertankers were “laid up” from regular use. Whenever possible, orders for new tankers were canceled.

Other Problems

These economic problems are not the only difficulties that supertankers have faced in their short history. Some authorities believe that the speed of technological advance in designing these gigantic vessels has outstripped the ability to deal with possible dangers.

One outstanding technical hazard is that of explosions. Gases evaporate from the residue of oil left inside the ship’s tanks after the main load has been discharged. These gases are very easily ignited unless special precautions are taken. Generally speaking, the likelihood of explosion increases with the size of the tank. After three supertankers exploded in December of 1969, new methods of cleaning tanks were introduced. “Inerting,” that is, expelling explosive gases with inert (non-volatile) exhaust gases from the ship’s own engines, was thought to be the answer. But then, on December 29, 1975, the Berge Istra, a supertanker using inserting techniques, exploded.

Another problem involves the navigating of supertankers. Because of their size and shape, they are difficult to maneuver with accuracy, and it takes considerable time to bring them to a complete stop.

The “draught” or underwater depth of some of the huge tankers is so great that few of the world’s harbors have been able to cope with them. In some places, like the Straits of Dover, supertankers pass only one or two feet (.3 to .6 meter) above the seabed. Often these huge vessels have to unload in specialized deep-water ports, like Bantry Bay in Ireland.

Considerable misgivings are being expressed concerning the pollution hazards of supertankers. Collisions and groundings, which are hard to control, can result in the spilling of tremendous quantities of oil. When the Torrey Canyon grounded at Land’s End, England, in 1967, she gushed her 100,000-ton cargo of crude oil into the sea, with resulting havoc to marine and bird life. Miles of coastline were polluted. This disaster prompted the devising of better methods for cleaning-up operations after future mishaps. Aside from such disasters, many authorities are concerned about the unknown damage being done to the delicate ecology of the seas from the millions of tons of oil spilled accidentally or carelessly every year.

The swing in fortunes of supertankers well illustrates the capricious nature of human affairs. At present plans for developing these vessels are themselves grounded. Some have predicted the “death of the deep-sea dinosaurs.” The present world fleet of supertankers will, in the normal course of events, wear out. Though a large question mark hangs over their future at the present, only time will reveal whether these ‘sea monsters’ are simply hibernating rather than becoming extinct.

“Noah” in Surinam

IN SOUTHEASTERN SURINAM, an 18-meter (59-foot) “korjaal,” or boat, travels the Tapanahony River. The homemade craft rouses shouts of “Noa e psa!” (“Noah goes by!”) from village children as it passes by. Why? Well, it was built by a very active congregation of 27 Jehovah’s Witnesses, who use it to carry their preaching work to the villages along the river. They also use it to transport the entire congregation, along with their baggage, to Christian assemblies in the capital. Hence, the name “Noah” arose spontaneously among the villagers, who know that the vessel belongs to the Witnesses.

From Cheese and Butter to Hard Drugs

By “Awake!” correspondent in The Netherlands

BESIDES dairy-products​—cheese and butter—​enormous amounts of hard drugs have been pouring out of The Netherlands. Governments of neighboring countries have raised strong protests against this smuggling, maintaining that the Dutch authorities ought to take far stronger measures in dealing with the situation.

Throughout The Netherlands, especially in the city of Amsterdam, crime is greatly on the rise. Addicts, unable to pay the steep black-market price for drugs, are resorting to theft. They are even breaking into pharmacies to hunt for opium and morphine. In the center of Amsterdam, prostitutes under the influence of drugs may be seen sitting at brothel windows. Warfare rages among Chinese gangs for control of the narcotics trade.

The problem has reached such proportions that the Amsterdam city council is advocating the legalizing of drugs, agreeing in principle with the policy “free heroin for addicts.” The police, too, are in favor of this. From other quarters, however, a chorus of loud protest is being heard. It is feared that the legalization of narcotics would swell the already large number of addicts.

How Did the Situation Come About?

To find out how this serious problem developed, we arranged to get firsthand information from the Ministry of Justice’s Board of Police at The Hague. Our interview with a representative of that governmental department brought the following to light:

The Netherlands became the European hub for drug traffic because of the country’s central position, and the city of Amsterdam happens to be ideally situated. Only a few kilometers from Amsterdam lies the busy international airport Schiphol. In just a few hours, Belgium, Germany or France may be reached by land transportation. Rotterdam, Europe’s biggest seaport, is only 75 kilometers (47 miles) away. Because of the country’s extensive coastline, fishing boats and pleasure yachts can easily drop off an illegal cargo at an isolated spot. Also, The Netherlands’ liberal legal system and very tolerant policy toward foreigners seem to attract criminal elements.

Until November 1976, anyone caught with a large amount of opium or heroin was sent to prison for a maximum period of four years. Compared with many prisons in the East and in North Africa, those in The Netherlands are almost ideal. Inmates are never beaten, have ample food, do not have to work, may watch television and may receive reading matter and visits from relatives. Hence, those sentenced to short prison terms for smuggling narcotics do not fare badly. The government has instituted severer punishment meanwhile, but so far the desired effect has not been realized. Ever-increasing quantities of drugs are being seized by the police and customs officials.

Another reason why the drug problem is greater in The Netherlands than in neighboring countries is that illegal narcotics traffic has been going on for a much longer period here. Why? In the 1930’s, poor Chinese seamen came to The Netherlands, giving up their occupation to earn money on shore for their hungry families back home. These men spent just a few cents daily on food and drink. They slept crowded together in the poorest parts of the big cities. In the wake of the economic revival after World War II, their lot improved. Through thrift and hard work, many of these former seamen were able to open one Chinese restaurant after another. But a considerable number of the Chinese settlers were opium smokers, and remained such. Since the large Chinese colony obtained nearly everything for their restaurants and shops from Hong Kong, here and there a small packet of opium would be included in the shipments.

Much later, heroin and other hard drugs appeared on the underground market. Until about four or five years ago, no heroin was ever seized by the police or customs officials. But now the total runs into hundreds of kilos, and this amount apparently is only the top of a huge iceberg. Much of the opium and heroin comes from the area known as the “Golden Triangle”​—Burma, Laos and northern Thailand. Fishing boats smuggle the opium out of the “Golden Triangle” to Hong Kong, Singapore and, more recently, to Bangkok. The powerful crime syndicates that control the real traffic in narcotics have their seat in big seaports, and use every conceivable means to get the drugs to the rich West. Profits are fabulous. At the source, raw opium costs about $53 per kilo, but the addicts pay all together some $235,300 for a kilo of heroin. (Using a fairly simple chemical method, from ten kilos of raw opium, one kilo of heroin can be made.)

Much of the heroin from the “Golden Triangle” went to Vietnam during the time that some 800,000 United States soldiers were stationed there. Some of them already had been using drugs, and illness, anxiety and the pressures of jungle warfare added many new addicts to their number. The big drug problem in Europe, especially in The Netherlands, started after the United States withdrew from Vietnam. Why? Because the Chinese syndicates in Hong Kong and Bangkok lost their lucrative market in Vietnam and did everything possible to build up a market in Europe. To this end, they largely used their contacts with criminal elements among the Chinese in The Netherlands.

The effect of the drug problem has been devastating to The Netherlands. A mere ten years ago this country was comparatively free of crime. Now Dutch society is ravaged by juvenile delinquency, theft and even murder. If someone is robbed or assaulted in public, hardly anyone lifts a finger to provide help. During one weekend in Amsterdam when 7,000 cars were broken into, the overworked police force could do little more than give the victims a form to fill out. To break the wave of terror and robbery in Amsterdam, the Dutch government had military police on the trams for some time.

So, the great increase in crime is directly related to drugs. Buyer and dealer meet each other in districts and at addresses where other crimes​—prostitution, gambling, theft and traffic in stolen goods—​are rife. Every day an addict needs perhaps half a gram of heroin, costing as much as $118. Obviously this amount of money can never be obtained by honest means. Hence, addicts resort to pushing drugs, prostitution and theft; in fact, they do not shrink back from committing any crime that results in material gain. To support their habit, they must steal an enormous amount, as they receive only about one tenth of the value for stolen goods. Hence, drug addiction has brought into being one great mass of crime.

The police force cannot deal effectively with the situation unless more men are added. That is why some say that it would be better to supply free heroin to all addicts, hoping that this would eliminate drug-related crime.

The drug problem in The Netherlands certainly is a staggering one. However, individuals can be helped. How? In The Netherlands and other parts of the earth, former addicts have been assisted to break free from their habit through a study of the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Today these former addicts are upright members of society. Surely, the application of the Bible’s counsel could aid many more.

[Picture on page 21]

“Taking drugs along? Better forget it

Foreign countries punish with a heavy hand”

[Credit Line]

From campaign by the Dutch government to discourage the transporting of drugs

Court Recognizes Change

SEVERAL years ago, a young Canadian woman involved in illegal drug traffic unwittingly sold drugs to an undercover police agent. A nationwide warrant for her arrest was issued, but for over seven years police were unable to apprehend her. In the meantime, she began a study of the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses, and what she was learning caused her conscience to plague her. She finally decided to turn herself over voluntarily to the authorities.

However, a lawyer advised her to plead not guilty to the charge, due to the passage of time and the unavailability of witnesses. Her insistence on honesty in the matter upset the lawyer so much that he launched into a description of the degraded conditions in a woman’s prison and the consequences of leaving her children without a mother.

But rather than compromise her conscience, she obtained another lawyer, and her case was heard before the Alberta Supreme Court. The defense presented her record of complete rehabilitation through association with Jehovah’s Witnesses and the part Bible studies had in developing a strong conscience. Even though only unique and exceptional circumstances would deter the Court from ordering imprisonment due to the seriousness of her offense, she was given just a six-month suspended sentence with no fine or requirement to report to a probation officer!

The Art of Leather Craft

WOULD you like to enjoy yourself and at the same time earn an income? In this time of rising costs and widespread unemployment, more and more people are looking for work or ways to supplement their salary. Others seek satisfying relaxation from their everyday routine. Leather craft provides both profitable work, which can be done right at home, and wholesome diversion for the whole family.

Leather that is suitable for carving must be vegetable tanned. Such leather absorbs moisture readily so that it can be carved, stamped, dyed or given a high-gloss finish. Chrome-tanned leather, on the other hand, cannot be tooled.

To carve or tool leather, you must first moisten or “case” it. Rub a damp sponge over the flesh side of the leather. When the leather begins to return to its natural color, it is ready for carving. Additional moisture may be added as required, but unnecessary dampening should be avoided because it darkens the leather and makes it hard. Always use glass or porcelain containers for the water used to dampen the leather. Water from metallic containers may stain the leather permanently.

When transferring a design onto the leather, never use ball-point pens or pencils, as these will leave indelible marks on your product. By tracing onto the damp or cased leather with a dull-pointed instrument, you can transfer a design from paper to leather. Next, the outline of the pattern is cut with a swivel knife that cuts about halfway through the leather. After this, various stamping tools are used to hammer down the background and bring out the highlights of the pattern, giving it a three-dimensional look. Leather to be stamped should be placed on a hard, smooth surface, such as marble, and stamping tools should be struck with a wooden or rawhide mallet held loosely in the hand.

Stamping tools usually are divided into the following categories: camouflage or cam, shade, bevel, vein, seed, background. Additional tools could include a plier-type rotary punch, used to make lacing holes in the leather, a good sharp knife with a short blade, dividers, square, lacing needles, punches for setting rivets and snaps, and rubber cement. Also, a small pair of sharp tin snips is very useful in cutting leather.

With practice in using stamping tools, you can develop a rhythmic tapping motion that will give the best results. To gain skill in the work and experience in determining proper moisture content for carving, practice on small pieces of scrap leather.

Your handiwork may be assembled by various methods of lacing, or the pieces could be sewed by hand. Commercial lacing may be made of plastic or genuine leather. However, a person may wish to experiment with lacing made from nylon fishline, single strands from certain synthetic ropes, or thin leather cut in narrow strips and spliced together. Some items can be assembled with rivets alone.

With practice and careful thought, some people have been able to develop their own style and technique. The pleasure and satisfaction of leather craft comes from creating with your own hands something that is both attractive and useful. So, whether you are looking for profitable work or a relaxing pastime, leather craft may well fill your needs. As with other work and hobbies, it is necessary to control this work and not let it control you. Recognize that it is only a means to an end. As you work with leather, you may find that your pleasure can be profitable in more than one way.

Shopping in a Turkish Bazaar

By “Awake!” correspondent in Turkey

ISTANBUL​—a unique city straddling two continents. Although full of exotic Eastern mystery, Western influence gives it a certain flavor that cannot be matched elsewhere in the world. And at no other place in the city is this more evident than in the extraordinary covered bazaar or market. If anything typifies Istanbul, it is the market, so strongly reminiscent of days gone by when Istanbul was Constantinople and was ruled by the Ottomans. We really should visit it!

Istanbul’s Unique Covered Bazaar

Upon entering the bazaar, we are at once embroiled in one of the most colorful and noisy spectacles to be witnessed anywhere. Open every day except Sunday from early morning until sunset, it is possibly the largest market to be found in any European or Mediterranean land.

The narrow cobbled streets twist so much that within moments our sense of direction is lost. Each bend reveals yet another magnificent stretch of market. While our eyes feast upon the riot of color and activity, our ears are assaulted from every quarter by sounds unimaginable and seemingly in every language possible.

Here in the narrow alleys and passages of the market, which is mostly covered and constantly teems with a seething mass of people who talk, shout, laugh and bargain, all at the top of their voices, we step into a seemingly bygone world. Pushing through the crowd are hamals, or porters, carrying vast loads resting on a sort of leather harness on their backs. Their hoarse cries of “Give way!” punctuate the confusion of voices. Sometimes a truck or car, looking strangely out of place, will try to reach a shop or stall, its horn being sounded vainly to clear the way.

Much more dramatic is the passing of one of the horse-drawn carts. Overloaded, with the horses stamping and slipping on the cobblestones, the cart lurches forward, narrowly missing curbside stalls​—until the inevitable happens, and oranges, handkerchiefs or other things lie in profusion all over the street while the stall owner and cart driver loudly harangue each other. This is the signal for the crowd to join in with their versions of the accident. All thoughts of buying or selling are forgotten in this new excitement.

As you can see, sometimes the street vendors outnumber the customers. These enterprising business people advertise their wares by shouting out in bits of at least four languages. Many of these salesmen are mere children, who sell anything from buzlu su (iced water) to plastic bags in which to carry your purchases. Though these youngsters lack a formal education, like their adult colleagues they conduct their business very ably, speaking enough of various languages to sell something to passing tourists.

Our feet soon tell us that the bazaar is not a small place. At one count there were over 4,000 shops, apart from the 2,000 small workshops that manufacture many of the goods sold here. Streets and lanes are lined with stalls and handcarts without number, and throughout the market area are scattered twelve warehouses, some of which are connected to vast old Ottoman Hans or Business Houses. There are some twelve fountains, although these are mere relics of the past. Now there are restaurants and teahouses, in which we can take refuge for a few moments’ respite from the turmoil. For the convenience of the Moslems, there are several mosques. Also, there are two banks, a very essential public convenience, and an information center primarily for the benefit of lost tourists. And, for some reason, there is even a primary school​—indeed a fascinating start in life for the children who attend.

Bazaar History in Brief

The bazaar was established on its present site (and covering almost the same area) by Sultan Mehmet II. That was in 1461, shortly after the conquest of Constantinople (Istanbul). Then the bazaar was mainly a wooden structure, but it has been rebuilt and enlarged a number of times and now includes part of Mehmet-the-Conqueror’s stables and quite a few other interesting stone buildings of the period.

Over the years, fires have destroyed parts of the market​—the last big one taking place in 1954. Nonetheless, the market and its precincts remain very much the same today as they were years ago.

No Easy Route Through

Having entered the market by one of its five entrances, we are faced with the problem of finding a way through its tumultuous maze of sixty-odd streets and lanes. Interestingly, different “streets” tend to specialize in certain goods. Why, here is one called “Street of the Turban Makers”! And there is another termed “Street of the Aga’s Plumes.” Down yet another fine old colonnaded arcade are found all the shops selling Turkish carpets and rugs, damasks and brocades. In nearby lanes, we can root about in great piles of goat’s-hair rugs, or admire handmade carpets, all in an atmosphere of amicable rivalry, as shopkeepers vie with one another for our attention.

Fine bargains are to be found everywhere​—in all sorts of odd little shops tucked away down dusty little alleyways. The only problem is remembering just where to find the shop again. Since certain things can be found only in specific places, a good memory is a requirement for shopping in Istanbul’s covered bazaar.

Whether you have a good memory or not, doubtless you will enjoy wandering about in this mazelike market. But set aside enough time to get lost. Even that is a pleasure​—and an adventure—​in what can only be described as one of Turkey’s most unusual attractions.

The “Old Market”

This particular section of the covered bazaar is right in the middle and is known as the Bedesten. Here the more valuable antiques and unusual items are to be found. Just look at all these articles of copper, brass and glass, and even some Byzantine relics. Some of these items are genuine, but, beware, a lot of them are modern, machine-made and rather shoddy goods that tend to dispel the still-enchanting Oriental atmosphere of the market.

In more “modern” parts of the market area, we find dealers in jewelry and gold. Here one sees some very fine, though costly, specimens of handmade jewelry. There is an extensive trade in gold here, and prices fluctuate daily.

Bargaining Essential

Are you a little worried about all the bargaining that goes on here? Well, to enter fully into the spirit of the market, one must bargain and haggle over prices. This is all done in an atmosphere of “friendly robbery,” buyer and seller alike looking for an advantage and each stating an ever-changing “rock-bottom” final price. Sometimes, depending on the values involved, this sort of discussion goes on almost for hours, with the participants drinking teas and Turkish coffee freely supplied by the dealer until agreement has been reached.

‘But there is so much to bargain over!’ you say. Yes, but apart from the mass-produced souvenirs and everyday household items, probably the most attractive things to buy fall into just a few categories: brass and copper ware, carpets, jewelry, ceramics and other handmade items of wood, onyx and meerschaum. Hand-embroidered clothing and leather goods are always popular buys among visitors too.

In the market, do you notice how everything appears to be a little unreal? Actually, the outside world seems very far away. Without concern about various outside problems, here all sorts of people conduct their business shrewdly but politely.

We are about to leave the Bedesten by the gate of the goldsmiths. But, do you see the Byzantine eagle over the gate? Well, it is very old, and one famous historian​—Evliya Celebi—​said this about that symbol: “Gain and trade are like a wild bird, which, if it is to be domesticated by courtesy and politeness, may be done so in the market.” So, perhaps in some ways the old bazaar has not changed so very much after all.

Well, we have come to the end of our shopping trip. “Unforgettable,” did you say? Perhaps so, for one thing seems sure: Long after the souvenirs you bought here have been lost or forgotten, the memory of Istanbul’s covered bazaar will linger on.

What Is the Bible’s View?

Is God Trying You with Evil?

IT IS common among people to refuse to take the responsibility for wrongs. A man may drink heavily and gamble, reducing himself to a state of poverty, and thereafter blame God for his troubles. Proverbs 19:3 realistically describes the situation: “It is the foolishness of an earthling man that distorts his way, and so his heart becomes enraged against Jehovah himself.”

But it might be asked: Are there exceptions to this? Does God ever tempt anyone to commit wrongs?

The Christian disciple James gives us real insight regarding this. He wrote: “When under trial, let no one say: ‘I am being tried by God.’ For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone.” (Jas. 1:13) These words point up the fact that it is contrary to Jehovah God’s personality to try any of his intelligent creatures with evil.

The Most High is holy, pure or clean in the absolute sense. He is never the source of anything bad. Lamentations 3:38 tells us: “From the mouth of the Most High bad things and what is good do not go forth.” Jehovah also is the supreme standard of all that is good. The Scriptures depict angelic creatures, seraphs, as saying: “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah.” (Isa. 6:3) Even Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, refused to accept the designation “good” as part of a title. This showed that he, too, recognized his Father as the ultimate standard of what is good.​—Mark 10:17, 18.

Since the Almighty is good through and through, without the slightest defect, he simply cannot be induced to commit evil. So he ‘cannot be tried with evil.’ Evil has no appeal to him. ‘He loathes it. The prophet Habakkuk wrote of Jehovah: “You are too pure in eyes to see what is bad; and to look [that is, look approvingly] on trouble you are not able.” (Hab. 1:13) Because the Most High is absolutely free from even the minutest taint of evil, he cannot try anyone with evil. He never puts anything before humans to induce them to turn from a righteous course to the doing of wrong.

Of course, some persons may argue that, if God had not created such a strong attraction between the sexes, there would be less immorality. Similarly, if humans had not been created with such keen senses of sight, smell, touch and taste, many things would be far less attractive and so the desire for alcoholic beverages, material possessions, entertainment and the like would be less likely to plunge a person into a wrong course.

But is such reasoning sound? An automobile, for instance, can cover considerable distance in a short time. Yet, should its manufacturer be held accountable when an accident occurs because the driver greatly exceeded the speed limit when going around a sharp curve? Surely, no one can rightly accuse the manufacturer of having induced the driver to violate a safety regulation because of having built an automobile capable of moving at a speed higher than road conditions allow.

Likewise, the fact that God empowered humans with the ability to reproduce does not mean that he has provided an inducement to commit fornication. Nor is the body’s being designed to take in food and drink an inducement to give in to drunkenness or gluttony. Fornication, drunkenness, gluttony and the like constitute a misuse of the body. The Christian apostle Paul made this clear to the Corinthians: “Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods; but God will bring both it [the belly] and them [the foods] to nothing. Now the body is not for fornication.”​—1 Cor. 6:13.

In reality, people commit badness because of yielding to their own wrong desires and not because of being tried by God with evil. The disciple James continues: “Each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn, sin, when it has been accomplished, brings forth death.” (Jas. 1:14, 15) Hence, if a person yields to wrong desire, he has no basis for blaming God for the bitter consequences of his sinful course. He should take to heart the reproof implied in the Scriptural question: “Why should any living man complain, any mortal, in the face of his sins?”​—Lam. 3:39, The New American Bible.

True, Jehovah God does permit various kinds of circumstances to arise that prove trialsome to a Christian. But the Most High is not making wrong look enticing. His Word, the Bible, unmistakably condemns all badness and clearly sets forth the undesirable results. Accordingly, it is the individual’s reaction to the particular circumstance that determines the outcome of this trial. To illustrate, a Christian may be subjected to physical abuse on account of his faith. His desire for relief may build up to the point where he starts to think about compromising. If he yields to that desire, he will sin. But he cannot blame Jehovah God for his ignoring the Bible’s admonition and committing transgression.

Actually, the Almighty is very willing, yes, happy to help his servants to cope successfully with trials. Regarding the wisdom needed to deal with trials, the disciple James wrote: “If any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep on asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching; and it will be given him.” (Jas. 1:5) By means of his spirit, Jehovah God will recall to the mind of the individual what he needs to know and also how to apply what is brought to remembrance so as to bear up under difficulty. This is in harmony with what Jesus Christ said to his disciples about the operation of God’s spirit: “The helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you.”​—John 14:26.

So, regardless of what might face us, we should guard against wrong thinking about our Maker. The disciple James counseled: “Do not be misled, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, for it comes down from the Father of the celestial lights, and with him there is not a variation of the turning of the shadow.”​—Jas. 1:16, 17.

Because Jehovah is the unchangeable God of goodness, you can be confident that he will never try you with evil. He is the source of only good things, not bad. Therefore, when faced with trials, look to Jehovah God to help you. He will not fail to give you the needed wisdom to succeed in coping with difficulty. Also, never permit yourself to blame God for problems that you may bring upon yourself. Instead, repentantly turn to him, and he will forgive you in a large way. (Isa. 1:18) Yes, it is by sticking close to our Creator that we will continue to receive his ‘good gifts’ for all eternity.

Watching the World

TV Program Opens Minds

◆ Canadian viewers of the nationally televised CBC program “Access” were moved to write in about a recent controversial show:

“I would like to commend you on the program presented this past Sunday on the topic of Jehovah’s Witness[es] and the question of their preaching work and the right to refuse blood. I’m sure, as I did, that many of the public who viewed this show realized that we are indeed prejudiced against this religious sect and were indeed under a misconception concerning their beliefs on blood. Perhaps, in [the] future, when a Jehovah’s Witness calls I will be able to appreciate their visits more fully.”

“As a med[ical] student, I found the discussion fascinating & the comments of Messrs. Cooley & Baker [surgeons] of particular interest. Good stuff altogether.”

“It is good to know a minority religious (or other) group such as Jehovah[‘s] Witnesses can get an unbiased hearing on the air. I believe we need many more responsible people like these who show a real concern in the welfare of others.”

Asia’s Hazardous Blood

◆ “Blood recipients in Korea are remarkably more vulnerable to hepatitis than people in any other country,” reports the Korea Times. This is “due to the prevalent transfusion of highly tainted blood by blood sellers,” explains the newspaper, noting that blood samples indicated hepatitis contamination at “47 times the rate in the United States, and twice the Japanese rate.”

​—The Philippine’s Bulletin Today of Manila also cautions: “Patients needing blood transfusion, beware!” in an article headlined “Caution on Dangers of Blood Transfusion.” According to the Bulletin, “the blood you need may be cancer causing in the form of a hepatitis virus.” Cancer specialists at the recent Third Asian Cancer conference were the source of the warning.

Price of “Success”

◆ At the conclusion of a recent interview for People magazine, the widely known American professional football player and actor, O. J. Simpson, made some observations on the fruits of his great success. “Life has been so good to me,” he admits. “I got a great wife, good kids, money, my own health​—and I’m lonely and bored. . . . I often wondered why so many rich people commit suicide. Money sure isn’t a cure-all?’ Clearly, life needs a purpose beyond mere human pursuits.

A “Fitting Wage”

◆ The findings of two researchers, themselves homosexuals, who studied the incidence of VD in “gay” baths were recently published in the American Journal of Public Health. They found that the patrons of the Denver bath that they investigated had one chance in three of contacting VD carriers. They were 2.5 times as likely to have gonorrhea as comparably promiscuous heterosexual men and 40 to 50 times as likely as the general local population.

Meanwhile, a Journal of the American Medical Association editorial pointed out that the “vulnerability of the homosexual to diseases that are sexually transmitted but are not generally categorized as venereal . . . is becoming increasingly apparent.” The nature of homosexual acts open “risks of exposure to enteric pathogens [intestinal germs],” says the editorial. “It is thus not surprising that homosexual men have been reported to contract giardiasis, shigellosis, and amebiasis in areas where these diseases are not endemic [native to the region].”

Surely when “males behave indecently with males,” they are “paid in their own persons the fitting wage of such perversion.”​—Rom. 1:27, The New English Bible.

Women in the Cockpit

◆ Of 40,000 American commercial pilots, only 22 are women, according to a survey by Aviation Daily. And air carriers of other nations are said to employ just 10 female pilots and one female flight engineer.

Integrated Witchcraft

◆ Many white South African wives are calling on the occult talents of local black witch doctors to keep their husbands faithful, according to a report from Johannesburg in the New York Post. From the African townships surrounding South Africa’s cities, the witch doctors, “for a fee, plus transportation costs, are willing to make house calls in white suburbs,” says the Post. The standardized fee for holding a husband is as much as $60, while a mere consultation or ridding the house of a bad spirit are somewhat less. Of one well-known witch doctor, the article states: “She was raised a good Christian. Like many others, she has merged that faith and her ancestral religion into one.”

A New Principle?

◆ China’s Communist Party newspaper Jenmin Jih Pao recently put much emphasis on the work ethic in a major article that says people should be paid in keeping with the work they do. “He who does not work, neither shall he eat,” declared the paper. Then it asserts that the principle “is a new thing which only surfaces in a socialist society.” However, this is a Biblical principle that was part of Christianity centuries before Communism “discovered” it: “If anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat.”​—2 Thess. 3:10.

Youthful “Obstetrician”

◆ When six-year-old Andre’s mother went into labor at home in New York, he was the only one there to help. “Go into the bathroom and fill a basin with hot water,” he was instructed, and shortly the little boy “was helping his mother wash and was monitoring the delivery, telling her of the infant’s progress,” reports the New York Daily News. “I told him mommy’s life and the baby’s life were at stake,” said the mother, “and he took it very seriously.” The little “obstetrician,” however, could not visit his tiny “patient” later at the hospital. No visitors under 14 are allowed.

“Kicking” the Habit

◆ Many black bears of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada became “hooked” on honey from the commercial beehives there. “Once they’re addicted,” says a wildlife control officer, “they’re the same as drunks on skid row trying to get to a bottle.” He declared that “when we find the ones stuck on honey they’re skinny, their hide’s in bad shape, and their faces are all cut up from getting into the hives.” Honey producers have reduced this threat to their income by erecting electric fences, which now seem to be holding the animal “addicts” off.

Tiny Alcoholic

◆ Some parents think it is cute when their little tots sip the parents’ alcoholic drinks. This seemingly “harmless” practice resulted in a two-year-old child apparently becoming addicted to alcohol in Ōita, Japan. According to the Mainichi Daily News, the little boy had been accustomed to “sharing” his father’s evening drink. Then recently the tyke begged his 10-year-old brother to give him a drink and unwittingly the older boy poured him some Shochu (distilled spirits). The two-year-old was seized with convulsions and died 16 hours later.

First for Euthanasia?

◆ In what is thought to be the world’s first popular vote on euthanasia, voters of Switzerland’s most populous state, Zurich, approved mercy killing. The vote obligates the state government to introduce federal legislation that would allow doctors to end a patient’s life if he so requests, and is “suffering from an incurable painful and definitely fatal disease.”

Instant Justice

◆ After an interim of nine months, Nigeria’s wayward drivers must once again beware of instant justice by whipping for their traffic infractions. According to Agence France-Presse, the chairman of Nigeria’s traffic committee warned at a press conference ‘that violators would be dealt with severely for using unroadworthy vehicles or for parking on highways.’ Soldiers are assigned to administer the roadside whippings.

Jungle “Giant” Kidnapped

◆ A six-ton work elephant recently was kidnapped and held for $1,500 ransom in the jungles of Thailand. The unfortunate creature was being used to help to harvest rattan vine for a joint Thai-American furniture-making venture. “He’s a real big elephant, the largest one we have,” said a company official. “That’s why they got him.” The ransom demand was refused as Thai police began a search for the huge victim and its captors.

Giant Soviet Pipeline

◆ An oil pipeline, said to be about three times as long as the Alaska pipeline and wider in diameter, is scheduled for construction in the Soviet Union. The 2,100-mile (3,380-kilometer) pipe will carry crude oil from west Siberia’s oil fields to refineries in European Russia. Work is to be done during the winter, “when frozen ground will enable the heavy trucks to proceed across the swampy Siberian wilderness,” reports the New York Times.

Disease Carriers Besiege Africa

◆ Europe’s spreading rabies problem has an African counterpart. “At least 500 [Tanzanian] tribesmen have died from the dreaded disease during the last 12 months alone,” reports the Belgian newsmagazine To The Point International. Shortages of vaccine, rifles and ammunition needed to kill rabid animals have forced desperate “local authorities in some affected districts [to begin] issuing orders that [rabid] dogs should be clubbed to death rather than shot,” said the magazine. “It is now feared that the rabies epidemic will spread beyond control.”

Recent African guerrilla and civil warfare has also caused a resurgence of the tsetse fly, carrier of the dreaded sleeping sickness so destructive to cattle and humans. Areas of conflict cannot be sprayed with the insecticides that keep the deadly flies at bay. “The tsetse invasion is expanding,” declared a British veterinary scientist at a recent U.N. sponsored seminar in Nairobi. “The overall picture in Africa is not a rosy one.”

Animals in Crime

◆ A bulldog in Cincinnati, Ohio, jumped into a bus, grabbed a woman’s purse and started to make its getaway when other passengers seized the purse. The determined “purse snatcher” then grabbed another purse, but again was thwarted by passengers. At that, the canine “criminal” made its escape. The dog had “no previous record,” noted the Cincinnati Post.

Claiming that three of his cows were “raped” by a neighbor’s bull, a Vermont farmer took the matter to court. The jury awarded him $400 from the neighbor, whose negligence was said to be responsible for the bull’s breaking through a fence.

Gold in the “Hills”

◆ A new gold fever is going through Johannesburg, South Africa, not because of a new vein but because the “hills” of waste from the old mines is a new source of gold. Modern methods and the present high price of gold have made reclaiming leftover gold from the old slag heaps worth while. A new company formed for the purpose says that it will reclaim 54 tons of gold, 150 tons of uranium and 530,000 tons of sulphuric acid annually from the former wastes.

Tokyo on the Brink?

◆ New York city’s much publicized financial deficits are not without a counterpart on the other side of the world. “Tokyo on Verge of Financial Collapse” headlines a recent Mainichi Daily News article. “Tokyo stands to register a 285 billion yen [about $1 billion] deficit during fiscal 1978, putting it on the verge of financial collapse,” it states. This is somewhat more than the projected 1978 deficit for New York city. Tokyo “has been in the red every year since 1962,” notes the article.

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A Bible for Only $1

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The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures